Condor credited its continuing restructuring program and introduction of scheduled services for a 39% reduction in its "customary winter loss" for the fiscal first half ended April 30. The number of passengers carried rose 7.4% and fleet productivity jumped 18.2%. Actual results were not released. "The restructuring program is running according to plan, two-thirds of the cost-cutting measures have already been implemented, the seat-only business. .
CSA Czech Airlines confirmed an audited net profit of CZK324.2 million ($22.9 million) for 2004 ( ATWOnline May 12). During the first five months of 2005, CSA recorded a 16% passenger increase to 1.8 million. In May it transported 444,000 passengers, up more than 20% compared to 2004.
Austrian Airlines retired its last MD-83 on June 22, marking an end to this aircraft type that had been in service with the company for 25 years. Austrian operated a total of 20 MD-81s/82s/83s/87s, which flew 900,000 hr., made 575,000 flights and transported 35 million passengers. The last two are going to operators in South and North America. Austrian will suspend its Vienna-Osaka route temporarily in the coming winter season owing to low yields and high airport costs at Osaka Kansai, ATWOnline has learned.
FAA said controllers at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center are using the Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures system designed and integrated by Lockheed Martin that automatically detects conflicts between aircraft and provides satellite data link communication and position information to controllers. Using ATOP, controllers will be able to reduce horizontal separation between aircraft from 100 nm to 30 nm. "The system helps the airlines save fuel while maintaining the highest standards of safety for transoceanic flights," said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.
FedEx Corp. reported net income of $448 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31, up 9% over net income of $412 million in the prior-year period. Revenue rose 10% to $7.72 billion, while operating expenses climbed 10% to $6.98 billion. This produced an operating income of $740 million, an 8% increase over operating income of $685 million in the year-ago period.
Niki Lauda told ATWOnline that his low-cost carrier Niki, a partner of Air Berlin, is expecting a passenger increase from 940,000 in 2004 to more than 1 million this year. "Now we have to evaluate whether to add a sixth A320 in 2006, one year earlier than scheduled," he said. In addition, Niki, which operates from bases at Vienna and Salzburg, is looking for a third hub, which could be located outside Austria, possibly in nearby Bratislava. It flies four A320s and one A321, and after the summer season the A321 will be replaced by a new A320 from an order for 10.
Sun-Air of Billund, Denmark, signed an agreement with AvCraft Aerospace GmbH for a Dornier 328JET. Delivery is scheduled for next week. The aircraft originally was scheduled for delivery to Hainan Airlines. Sun-Air, which operates a fleet of 328s, has options for a second jet. AvCraft, which was reconstituted as a new company from the bankruptcy of Fairchild Dornier, is currently insolvent and in talks with potential buyers. Sun-Air operates as a British Airways franchise carrier.
SITA SC yesterday announced an alliance with INS, a California-based global provider of vendor-independent business and technology consulting services and software solutions, to provide the travel and transportation industry with "a broad range of technology-based professional services, managed services and software."
GoJet Airlines took delivery of the first of 10 CRJ700s on order. It has 40 options as well. The carrier, an affiliate of Trans States Airlines, will operate the aircraft in the United Express program beginning Aug. 1. It is the first to be fitted with upgraded GE CF34-8C5B1s, a derated version of the CF34-8C5 powering the CRJ900.
United Airlines late Tuesday announced it was implementing a 3% fare increase on most US domestic and international published fares, effective immediately. The increase came on the same day the price of oil briefly flirted with $60 a barrel, a new record. "With oil continuing to trade at historically high levels, all industries must act responsibly to offset rising costs. . .We are confident our customers will understand that we must take appropriate measures to mitigate our higher fuel costs," said Executive VP-Marketing, Sales and Revenue John Tague.
American Airlines said it made a $75 million contribution to its defined benefit pension plans, bringing its total contribution to the plans in 2005 to more than $200 million. AA employees, led by Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey and leaders of the pilot, flight attendant and mechanic unions, lobbied in Washington yesterday in favor of pension reform legislation. AA noted that with its defined benefit pension plans funded at about 80%, "it has the best-funded defined benefit plans in the industry."
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. announced that Lufthansa Flight Training-Berlin purchased an EP-1000CT visual system for use on a new A320 simulator ordered from CAE.
FLYi Inc. shareholders approved a request by the board of directors to effect a reverse stock split in an effort to avoid delisting by NASDAQ. The parent of Independence Air has until Nov. 23 for its shares to trade above the $1 threshold for at least 10 consecutive days. The reverse split could range from 1:2 to 1:10.
CAE shareholders agreed to the transfer of the company's head office from Toronto to Montreal, where CAE was founded in 1947. The firm employs more than 2,800 in the Montreal area and generates some $70 million into the economies of Montreal and Quebec.
Qantas denied a report in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that the airline "could issue a profit downgrade as early as Friday." Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said Qantas "would meet the current market expectations" for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.
Although US passenger airlines are enjoying record traffic, the number of people they employ continues to decline, according to the US DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. BTS reported that the airlines employed a total of 451,915 workers in April 2005, 2.8% fewer than in April 2004. The seven network carriers--American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, US Airways and Alaska--employed 304,761 full- and part-time workers, down 6.1% from April 2004.
Emirates will invest $38.8 million to build a luxury conservation resort in Australia's Blue Mountains. According to the company, the development will be built on farmlands that currently border the Gardens of Stone National Park, with guest facilities occupying less than 2% of the total land. "We want to take this beautiful but sadly distressed rural farming site and turn it into a sanctuary to further showcase Australia to the world," said Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. Opening of the resort is planned for 2007.
L-3 Communications Security & Detection Systems received an order to provide New Bangkok International Airport, which is expected to handle more than 700,000 tons of cargo each year, with two CX-3800G high-energy x-ray cargo inspection systems. They will be deployed at the NBIA Cargo Free Zone IT Project with AMR Asia Co. Ltd.
The labor agreement that would have permitted Air Canada to go forward with its order for up to 36 777s and 14 787s ( ATWOnline, June 21) was rejected primarily by Air Canada pilots unhappy over the integration of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines seniority lists following AC's purchase of its cross-country rival in 2000, the Air Canada Pilots Assn. confirmed Monday. Of pilots who voted, 54% opposed the agreement, which would have set pay rates and working conditions for 777 flightcrew.
